I cannot beleive it's been an entire year since sweet Dante made his grand entrance into the world, an especially my heart. Two ways to describe him: Gigantic (he looks like a two year old now!) and ever smiling (just my type of person, eh?).

Federico and Anastasia, I couldn't be happier for your little family and cannot wait to see Dante grow! For now, here's a flashback to his sweet newborn session we did in their home a year ago!

((ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A NEWBORN SESSION WITH US? CONTACT US at Katie@katiedonnellyphotography.com OR call +33 6 95 84 36 46 to book!))

Meet Rose Seraphina, the sweetest new addition to Emily of Every After Press's family! (Flashback to Elodie’s newborn session here!) Everything about this sweet session could not have been sweeter: Hanging out on the couch as a family, watching big sister Elodie be so gentile and love on R, the happiness and organized chaos of having 2 kids under 2. Lots of fun!

At home newborn sessions are amongst my favorite things to photograph! This beautiful family had just moved to Paris so it was their first session with me (and I really hope not the last!). I LOVED those silly, crazy boys and how they just wanted to play! When they had their little brother in their laps all they did was hug him and kiss him and look at him. It was THE SWEETEST!

Little do you know it but newborn sessions are hard work! They're usually between 2-3 hours- lots of time to feed the little babe(s) and get those sweet curly photographs showing just how small and adorable your new addition is! A few musts for my newborn sessions:

1. A plain white onesie - this is perfect for getting simple, natural shots of your little one without the distraction of colors. It's important that it's tight-fitting, too, to show off their smallness!

2. Simple backgrounds - Whether it be a plain blanket or a neutral colored couch, simple background are best to draw attention not to your decorations, but to your baby! In my prop kit I have a bunch of lovely background blankets that are neutral though I always favor any sentimental blankets that my clients have.

3. A portable heater - AKA my secret weapon!! I ALWAYS bring one with me even in the summer! Babies lose heat so quickly and easily that it's important for their comfort that they are warm.. Especially if we decide to do photographs without clothes.

Here's a sweet recent newborn session that I am so excited to share with you! This little love was an absolute dream!

Being a newborn has it's drawbacks (hello zero bladder control!) but it has it's perks too! Here's a list of some of the things that newborns can do that unfortunately, at 25, you cannot.

You can have unlimited naps and NO ONE JUDGES YOU!! You are even ENCOURAGED to nap! TAKE ADVANTAGE, I assure you at 25 this unfortunately is not allowed!

People adhere to your every need! Too loud in the house? Your parents make everyone quiet down! Hungry even though it's 4:21am? HELLO EARLY BREAKFAST CATERED TO YOU! Believe me, if I wake up my fiancé asking for food before 7am he is sure to glare at me and roll over annoyed.

You are allowed to never wear pants and people still want to be around you!I should have put this as number one, honestly, pants are one of the worst things about being a grownup next to taxes. Savor this moment my friend.

4. Even when you're grumpy people still think you're cute.

'Nuf said.

5. You can eat as much as you want and never worry about gaining weight because that's the GOAL!

Enjoy this while it lasts, kid. Soon enough you'll be doing squats while dreaming of a hamburger but in reality dinner will be a salad. **womp womp**

6. You are allowed to have 10 different emotions in 10 minutes and no one thinks you had issues.

Not your boss, not your boyfriend, not the lady silently judging you on the subway. No one.

7. Snuggling at any moment is encouraged.

All day, every day. That's the life.

8. You are allowed to stare at anyone and anything at any time!

There's a guy with a peg leg in the metro? Stare away! Another cute baby? Lock eyes for as long as you'd like! Someone with really bad B.O. walking next to you. Feel free to make eye contact for the next 5 minutes, who cares! They'll just think you're cute!

9. Hanging out at any time of the day or night is totally cool!

Waking up Dad for a 2am party? Great idea! Try doing that at 25 and he'll try to ground you, even though you're a grown up.

10. Wear whatever you want and be completly freaking adorable.

At 25 you have a style and you know what kinds of fits look good on your body, your clothing choices are much more limited. As a newborn, you can literally wear a robe, or a body suit, or a track suit, or a purple wig, or be naked or wear a bear hat, or a pirate patch every day and people will still think you are the bomb.com. It's that simple!

So be weird, and embrace the fact that you're a newborn! The world is yours my little friend!

There have been a few times in my career that I've shed a tear while taking photos - Mostly during wedding ceremonies and once during a photo session, this one.

Family photography is my calling, I love documenting the love and playfulness of families with young kids and their bonds. It brings so much joy to my life, it's crazy. This family is one of those families that has magic in their household. Both parents are so calm, loving and happy just being with their kids and playing. While this is their second newborn that I've photographed (see first HERE), I feel like I know them so well simply because I had the beautiful opportunity to observe them and document one of the first mornings as a family of 5 (6 including Gizmo, the cat!).

My teary eyed moment: At one point, the two older kiddos needed to dance and let out some energy so they flipped on the soundtrack to Love Actually. Maybe it was the music, but one of my favorite memories from this session is watching them dance as a family to God Only Knows by the Beach Boys. You know the lyrics:

I may not always love youBut long as there are stars above youYou never need to doubt itI'll make you so sure about it

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you should ever leave meThough life would still go on believe meThe world could show nothing to meSo what good would living do me

God only knows what I'd be without you

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you should ever leave meWell life would still go on believe meThe world could show nothing to meSo what good would living do me

God only knows what I'd be without youGod only knows what I'd be without youGod only knows

-

It is literally the most beautiful and perfect song for family.

WHAT THEY SAID:

"Katie

These are just wonderful. We really are delighted, as last time. I sincerely hope you will be around to shoot many more of our family moments going forward because these are the type of shots that stop me in my tracks and make me realize just how precious - and fleeting - these short baby years are. We are still going through the album and will get back to you shortly with our selection of photos. But in the meantime, thanks so much again : you really are talented. "

Meet Katie Donnelly. An American woman living in Paris. Her photos on Facebook and Instagram make me want to hope a plane back to Paris! Her lifestyle photos of kids make me giggle.

Make sure you read all about Katie's "why". Why she takes the photos that she does. A "why" is required for every photographer because your "Why" influences how you present your work and how people find you.

I’m Katie Donnelly, a happiness expert and family photographer based in Paris,France.

Katie is best known for capturing childhood magic in a quirky, kiddish way. She then shows her magic tofamilies, who seem to forget how very wonderful and full of love the little moments are.

How did you develop as a photographer?

The school of life + photography school. Bosses, clients, teachers telling me what they loved and hated about my work. Taking that, and then finally realizing that I don’t give a crap about what THEY loved, I needed to give a crap about what I love. I realized that I loved kids and everyday life.

Do you have a philosophy of photography/art? How does that influence your photos?

It’s gotta make you feel. If it doesn’t, if you don’t hate it or love it or aren’t inspired by it, it’s not art to you. Point blank. Art is different for everyone. Also, everyone makes crap art, seriously, I take a ton of really bad photos ALL THE TIME because I know that I’m aiming for the really good ones, and it takes a lot of hard work to get them. I’m okay with that. It’s the fun in making art. Though it’s also frustrating.

Has photography opened you to new/different adventures? Into what new areas? How did it happen?

Teaching and writing. They’re both really scary things for me to do, but you gotta jump off the highest cliff to make the biggest splash right?

I’m really passionate about everyone being able to photograph their lives. It’s so, so important. I have only a few photos from when my parents got married and when my brother and I were kids. Before the divorce.

I want to know that I came from love. That they (parents) really loved each other. It’s so personal. So many people come in and out of our lives and have this huge impact on us that echoes for years, and through lifetimes. We need to remember those people.

What makes you “feel” a photograph? How do you translate that “feel” into the picture?

Hmm, I’m not so sure if I understand this question but photographs need to give me emotion. I want to hear the laughter and cry with them. I want to feel how warm and tight her hug is. It’s a whole experience.

Your favorite photos…what makes them special to you?

The people in them. They make me remember certain memories or give me a connection with someone I may not even know. Like I said before, you experience the photos, they aren’t just there to be pretty.

What has your photography taught you about yourself? and the world around you?

That art is really a series of self portraits. My business and goals around photography have pushed me past so many self-made boundaries and made me really dream. It’s made me want to throw up with fear, it’s made me closer to myself. I’m a naturally optimistic person, I’m so joyful so much of the time but I still carry a lot of baggage from my childhood. Like most of us.

It becomes very raw and clear when you dig deep. It’s scary to go down into yourself. You need courage. And a hell of a support team. I’m so glad to have the women over at the FCA, (Female Creatives Association) my other photographer/creative friends, and a partner who celebrates me and lifts me up. I’m really really lucky.

Are you involved in any projects? What do you hope to get from the project(s)?

I just wrote my book (woo!) and am starting some personal photo projects that I’ve beendreaming about and have been too scared to start. Everyone’s always waiting for the right moment when most likely that moment was yesterday. I’m hoping to layer on the emotions and storytelling even more. I’m hoping that doing this project just for me, will help me get past my fears and self doubts of calling myself an artist.

My Take Aways:

Your "why" is the reason behind your photography.

Don't be afraid to take the photos that YOU like.

Any other take aways that caught your attention? Feel free to share them in the Facebook Group.

Happy Weekend Everyone! Looking forward to see how the weekend inspires your details of heart and emotion.

Hey there, gorgeous!

Welcome to the home of Katie Donnelly Photography! I'm Katie, the owner and creative behind this Paris and NYC based engagement and family portrait photography brand. I laugh loudly, I love hard, and I can eat a pound of pasta in a sitting. (Seriously, ask my husband) I love celebrating everyday moments (with champagne of course!) and documenting the weird, the funny, and the wonderful of the everyday through family portraiture. Most days I’m hanging out in Paris or NYC and making art for my KDP portrait clients, or planning the next time I cook for our friends and family. My specialty? Pasta with fresh homemade pesto sauce.

What do you think? Are you the KDP cup of coffee?(that's, cawfee to all you fellow NYers)

Oui oui, madame, I’m sure you are! The KDP family is loving, adventurous and travels the world. You take lots of photos, and road trip with your dog (He sticks his head out the window with his tongue flying in the wind doesn’t he?!). You love enjoying the simplicity life and being silly. You savor the little moments and the big ones. You’re pretty sure that your kids are growing up WAY too fast, but are also excited to see who they become. Your family is your life (they’re probably one of those big crazy families like mine) and you spend a lot of time together talking, laughing, BBQing, and just enjoying each others company.

If this sounds like you, I think we should be friends.. sorry, is it too soon? *ahem* I mean, why don’t you get in touch. Let’s make some artful family portraits for your home..

Doesn’t that beautiful family of yours deserve it?

Katie Donnelly Photography

Paris + NYC PHOTOGRAPHER

"Hey Katie!! I got the album last Thursday and I haven't even gotten a chance to write to you because I've been too busy showing it to friends and family! Thank you so much :). Saying that I loved it is an understatement. You did and amazing job on it and you're an incredible photographer! You helped me keep the memory of my trip in a beautiful way.

Xx

Rossy"

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